Sun dial plastic top or cap

ABSTRACT

A spray can designed particularly for spraying sun tanning lotion or the like, and the can additionally having the feature of a sun dial on the can top, so that it may be utilized in timing the length of exposure of a person&#39;&#39;s body to the sun&#39;&#39;s rays.

Umted States Patent 1191 1111 3,829,980

lversen Aug. 20, 1974 SUN DIAL PLASTIC TOP 0R CAP 2,536,328 1/1951 Triplett 33/270 [76] ln entor: Edward lversen, 768 57th St. 2,968,394 1/1961 Appelt 206/47 R Brooklyn, NY. 11220 Primary Examiner-Louis R. Prince [22] Fled: 1972 Assistant Examiner-Richard R. Stearns I 2 APPL 279 027 Attorney, Agent, or FirmAllison C. Collard [52] 11.8. CI. 33/270, 206/47 R [57] ABSTRACT [51 1 Int. Cl. G04b 49/02 1511 Field of Search 33/270, 271, 275; spray can des'gned Pamcularly SPFaYmg 206/47 40/307 312 313 nmg lotion or the like, and the can add1tionally havmg v the feature of a sun dial on the can top, so that it may [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS, sons body to the suns rays.

213,009 4/1879 Thurston 33/271 2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures SUN DIAL PLASTIC TOP R CAP This invention relates generally to containers. More specifically it relates to containers that contain cosmetics or lotions for applying on a persons body.

It is generally well known that during sun bathing, the length of time for exposure of a persons body to the sun rays is a critical matter. Most people like to acquire an attractive sun tan particularly on their Summer vacations, and are obliged to initially expose themselves for only a short time, so to not get a painful sunburn. Gradually, this exposure time can be increased each day.

Accordingly, it is a principle object of the present invention to provide a container intended particularly for containing sun tanning lotion or the like, for use when on a beach or out-of-doors and which includes a timing device so a person can accurately time the length of a sun exposure.

Another object is to provide a container in which the timing device comprises a simple sun dial on top of the container, thus eliminating the need of a person taking a watch upon a beach where it might be damaged by beach sand or dampness from the air moving from over the water.

Another object is to provide a container including a sun dial, and wherein the container may consist either of a pressure can, a jar, or a collapsible squeeze tube.

Other objects are to provide a sun dial plastic spray top or cap which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects of the invention will appear from the following specification, it being understood that modifications, variations, and adaptions may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side cross section of the cap.

FIG. 3 is a cross section of the cap with the gnomon stored inside the cap such as for shipment from a manufacturer to a retail store.

FIG. 4 shows the gnomon pulled out from stored position so it could be inverted and refitted in the slot so it assumes the position shown in FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral shows the invention applied to a pressure can 11 having a removal top cap 12. The cap includes a flat top surface 13 upon which there is imprinted a design of a sun dial face 14 including radial hour calibration lines 15 and hour numerals 16.

The cap 12 has a radial slot 17 through a top wall 18, the slot extending from an edge 19 to well beyond the center of the top wall, and the slot 17 communicated with a straight slot 20 through a side wall 21 of the cap. The slot 20 has a pair of oppositely extending recesses 22 on each side edge thereof, the recesses bearing an upper edge that is flush with the underside of the top wall 18.

A gnomon 23 comprising a standard component of a conventional Sundial, in the present invention comprises a flat, generally triangular panel 24 integral with a base 25 having a channel 26 on each opposite side thereof. The gnomon is slidably supported in the slot 17 either in a downward position (as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4) or in an upward position (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2).

It will now be evident that in order to conserve space during shipment from a production source to a consumer, the container is sold (as shown in FIG. 3) with the gnomon fitted downwardly in the slot 17 so that it is contained inside the cap 12 where it thus is safe from breakage as well. In order to prevent the gnomon from accidently sliding out of the side slot 20 during shipment, a label 27 on the outside of the cap side wall 21 covers the slot 20 (as shown in FIG. 3). To remove the gnomon and set it up for use, a person tears away the label and the gnomon is then slid out (as shown in FIG. 4). The gnomon is then turned right side up and slid back in slot 17 (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2). The device is now ready for use. In use, the gnomon top point must be directed toward a celestial North direction. The gnomon will thus cast a shadow due to the sun, the gnomon edge 28 providing a shadow edge which can be read in reference to calibrations 15, so to obtain a time reading.

Thus a sun dial is incorporated with a container for any product such as sun lotion or any other item that might have some association or relation relative to sun light.

While certain novel features of my invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure Patent is:

1. A sun dial comprising:

a hollow, cylindrical plastic cap having a top surface with a sun dial face design formed thereon;

a slot formed in the side wall and in the top surface of said cap; and

a gnomon having a linear base with a channel formed on each opposite side of the base, and a pointer on its opposite end, the portion of the slot in the side wall being at least as long as the height of said gnomen so that the base channels of the gnomon can be slidably inserted into the slot formed on the top surface of the cap in either an upwardly extending use position or a downwardly extending storage position in which said gnomen passes into the portion of said slot located on said side wall to be stored inside said cap.

2. The sun dial as recited in claim 1 wherein said cap includes a label adhesively disposed across the side wall slot to prevent withdrawal of the gnomon.

by Letters 

1. A sun dial comprising: a hollow, cylindrical plastic cap having a top surface with a sun dial face design formed thereon; a slot formed in the side wall and in the top surface of said cap; and a gnomon having a linear base with a channel formed on each opposite side of the base, and a pointer on its opposite end, the portion of the slot in the side wall being at least as long as the height of said gnomen so that the base channels of the gnomon can be slidably inserted into the slot formed on the top surface of the cap in either an upwardly extending use position or a downwardly extending storage position in which said gnomen passes into the portion of said slot located on said side wall to be stored inside said cap.
 2. The sun dial as recited in claim 1 wherein said cap includes a label adhesively disposed across the side wall slot to prevent withdrawal of the gnomon. 